Apparatus for ascertaining the compressibility of articles or masses and grading the objects so tested



March 15', 1932. 1, 49,055

APPARATUS FOR ASCERTAINING THE COMPRESSIBILITY OF ARTICLES T. cRoPPEl R0R MASSES AND GRADING THE OBJECTS SO TESTED Filed Jan. 2, 1929 4Sheets-Sheet awweutoz zvoMzzsckoPPzm March 15, 1932. CRQPPER 1,849,055

APPARATUS FOR ASCERTAINING THE COMPRESSIBILITY OF ARTICLES OR MASSES ANDGRADING THE OBJECTS so TESTED Filed Jan. 2, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet '2avwwtoz 771004145 CHOPPER March 15, 1932. R 1,849,055

APPARATUS FOR ASCERTAINING THE CQMPRESSIBILITY 0F ARTICLES OR MASSES ANDGRADING THE OBJECTS SO TESTED Filed'Jan. 2, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3amowto'c March 15, 1932. CROPPER APPARATUS FOR ASCERTAINING THECOMPRESSIBILITY OF 4 0 Ow t m 9 M 00 3 I 11 T v R t A8 8 h S 4 OR MASSESAND GRADING THE OBJECTS SO TESTED Filed Jan. 2, 1929 l L J E Elvwwtoz F7710/7/70 C/FOPPE/P, 335W afliomu Patented Mar, 15, 1932 THOMAS CHOPPER,F ERD'INGTON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR T'O DUNLOP RUBBER COTMPANY LIMITED, 0]?LONDON, ENGLAND, A BRITISH COMPANY APPARATUS FOR ASOERTAINING THECOMPRESSIBILITY OF ARTICLES OR AND GRADING THE Application filed January2, 1929, Serial No.

golf balls,the cores for golf balls or rubber 19 balls generally. It isWithin the scope of this invention, however, to utilize the apparatusfor testing other matter, either in its worked or unworked condition. v

The apparatus is of thattype-devised for performing the tests known tothe trade or as required by the rules of the International LawnTennis'Federation -and-which consists in principle in first subjectingthe objects to t a determined imposition, commonly referred 29 to as theinitial load, after which a further determined imposition is imposed,whereupon the deformability or compression which has occurred in respectof the second imposition is defined, the data resulting therefromforming the basis for classifying the grades of the objects.

According to this invention objects are subjected to two degrees ofcompression by deif vices forming part of an apparatus mechani- 39 callydriven and actuating automatically as a whole. The first pressure beingless in extent than the secondwhereupon having imposed the secondload,the extent of the deformability of the object in respect of the secondload beyond that of the first is defined. The devices comprise a pivotedplatform for imposing the initial pressure, in

combination with a weight. that may be mounted upon a beam which pivotsdownwardly according to the compressibility of the object under test,the beam at its end remote from the pivot being adapted tocontrol meansfor classifying the objects as the result of the test. V

In order that this invention may bejclearly understood I have describedit'with reference to the drawings hereunto appended wherein a V Figure 1is a side elevation in part section OBJECTS SO TESTED 329,729, and inGreat Britain April 4, 1928.

of one embodiment of apparatus constructed according to this invention.

Figure 2 is a plan View of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a further embodiment.

Figure 4 is a plan view of Fig. 3.

Figs. 4a and 4 are enlarged detail views illustrating certain of themechanism shown at the left end of Fig. 4.

The apparatus illustrated in Figs. 12' comprises a main compressingmember in the form of abeam 1 fulcrumed'upon a pivot 2' received withinbrackets 3 upstanding from the base plate 4 of the apparatus, the beam 1having a weight 5 mounted thereon in order to occasion the pressure it,is desired to imposevupon the object being tested. f l

The beam is fulcrumed to oscillate both up wardly and downwardly itsmovement being produced by a cam 6. A roller 6a may be provided securedto the beam. The beam 1 has as. its function to compress the objectunder test, the object remaining stationary relative to the base plate.To render the test comparative in relation to different objects, thebeam 1 must be arranged to commence the pressure from an identicalposition for each test. This feature is occasioned'by the previouslydescribed cam -6 which raises the beam to what may be termed its zeroposition, the cam 6 for this reason hereinafter conveniently beingtermed the zero-cam.

; Secured to the beam 1 is the upper part 7 of the object retainingmeans, the lower part 8 taking the form of a platform pivoted at 9 to aspindle housed in brackets 3 upstanding from the base plate, theplatform being adapted to oscillate upwards and downwards, its movementbeing controlled by a cam 11 (hereinafter termed the Flift cam) whosefunction is to lift the platform 8 towards the com-' plementary. part ofthe object retaining means to impose an initial load upon'the objects,and which is imposed by lifting the platform 8 sulficiently toaccommodate the object. One means for lifting the platform 8 comprises aslide rod 12 held in brackets 13. The rod 12 is arranged to reciprocatelongitudinally and normally under the influence of a spring 14;.engaging a collar 15, moves a rack 16 to rock a complementary sector 17associated with the cam 11 and thus to raise the platform. The spring 14effects the initial load.

To lower the platform which is necessary in order that the objects maybe imposed or removed therefrom, the rod 12 is fashioned to engage thelimb 18 of a rocker arm or lever pivoted at 19, the lever havingrotatably secured to it a roller 20 which is adapted'to rest against acam 21, which owing to its func tion may be termed a retracting cam.

The operation of those parts more particu larly associated with thecompressing devices is as follows The zero and retracting cams 6 and 21respectively are set in motion and upon the beam 1 having been raised tothe Zero position the rod 12 is retracted allowing the platform 8 tofall, an object is then delivered to and lodged upon the retainingplatform. It will now be found that the retracting cam 21 has ceasedinfluencing the lever 18, and that the spring 14 having moved the rodand incidentally the lift cam 11 through the members 16-17, the objectis held. Moreover the spring is exerting a pressure upon the object. Thebeam 1 up to this time is retained 1n its zero position.v

A convenient form of the delivering means comprises a rotary platformmounted upon the base plate and adapted to be rotated by a ratchet andpawl with a step bystep motion, the pawls being reciprocated by anysuitable means, as for instance a pivoted lever coacting with a cam, therotary platform being provided with object retaining or spacing deviceswhich are presented successively underneath the testing devices.Alternatively, or in combination with the rotary platform there may beprovided a reciprocating automatically actuating sleeve or plungerdevice adapted to separate a single object from a bulk and deliver it tothe pressure imposing devices, the sleeve or plunger being actuated by aleveror rod contacting at its one end with a cam or other means; Springsand suitably mounted levers being provided if desired for assisting indirecting the objects. Figures 1-2 show a suitable delivering meanswhich comprises a member 22 attached to a lever 23 fulcrumed at 24 andacting with a cam It is an important feature in the apparatus after theplatform 8 has been raised to embrace the object and to impose aninitial load upon it that the platform is held to prevent it yieldingduring the application of the greater pressure, it is therefore proposedto use a detent or locking means and to associate it with any desiredpart of the apparatusJ A convenient embodiment of the detent comprisesmembers 30-31 pivotally united. andforced together by a spring andadapted when in their operative condition to embrace the rod 12, suchdetent or lock being disposed upon the base plate at a position beneathor adjacent a cam 32 which at the required period serves to hold themembers 3031 apart.

To resume with the operation of the apparatusthe components of which atthis time are exerting an initial load upon the object and the detent isholding the platform 8 against movementthe zero cam 6 further rotatesand allows the beam 1 to fall. The object now deforms under the load theextent of the deformation constituting the basis of the test.

A further important feature of the apparatus according to this inventionis the provision of means to automatically classify the objects and todirect them into receptacles allotted to the separate classifications.

A convenient construction of the directing means comprises anoscillatory lever 35 fulcrumed at 36 to which movement is impartedthrough the medium of a cam 37 of the sidefaced type, the lever 35 beingheld against the cam 37 by a spring 38 anchored to one of the upstandingbearings 39.

(lo-operating with the lever 35 is a selector 41 or stop which issecured to the beam 1, the relation between the selector stop and thelever 35 being such that upon the downward travel of the beam during itsaction of compressing, the stop coacts with the lever in such way toarrest its further movement should the beam 1 fall to a certain extent.To facilitate adjustment the stop at its end is provided with a threadedsleeve 42. Extending from and secured to the lever 35 is arod or pointer40 which extends up to and terminates near the object. a

The performance of-the selecting mechanism described with'reference toFigs. 1-2 is as follows It must first be appreciated that the lever 35and the pointer 40 are oscillated at each downward movement of thebeam 1. Should the tested object prove comparatively hard the beam 1 hasa small downward movement so that the stop 42 cannot contact the lever35 which as the result is able to recover its normal position. Butshould the tested object be comparatively soft the stop 42 due to thegreater movement of the beam 1 would engage with and prevent the lever35 from returning holding the pointer 40 at the other side of theobject. The position that the pointer assumes when the object iscomparatively soft is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

As will readily be seen the pointer 40 acts to direct the objects intothe relative one of the chutes 44.

Of course, it will be understood that the beam 1 has to be raised beforethe objects can be removed from the testing devices and therefore wereit'not prevented the lever 35 would return to its normal position beforedirecting the objects. To prevent this a gapped disc 45 to engagetheclaw 46, is provided. This'claw 46 is formedon the upper end of apost carried by the lever 35 as shown in Fig.1. T

.As shown in Figs. 1-2 the cams 6, 21, 32 V alternatives some of whichfor convenience have been embodied in Figs. 3-4. It should be understoodthat they need not'be adopted in the entirety.

Referring to Figs. 3-4 the beam 50 as in the other construction isfulcrumed at its one end upon a spindle 51 and at its other end carriesa roller 52 which rests upon a zero cam 53. The beam 50 further isprovided with a contact stop or selector, 54 secured thereto with anadjustable engagement.

For convenience in this construction the objects to be tested areadmitted from above and for this reason the object-retaining plat: formis disposed vertically and comprises an integral upstanding abutment 55.Spring in fluenced flaps 56 may be provided to assist in retaining theobjects. I

The complemetary part'of the object retaining means-and moreover themeans for applying the initial load-consists in a plunger 57 housedwithin bearings 58 and in-.

fluenced by a spring 59. To apply the initial load the spring59 movesthe plunger 57 towards the object and upon the spring having fullyexerted itself the plunger is held against further movement for the timebeing by a detent or clamp 60 hingedly mounted upon a spindle 61 housedwithin the bearings 58.

Pressure is imposed upon the clamp 60 by a sprin 64 en aged b a nut 63carried on- C D .4 y

the threaded shankof a drawbolt 62 passed through the clamp 60. Thedrawbolt62 is pivotally secured at 65 to a lever 66 fulcrumed to aspindle 67 contained in brackets 68, the

lever 66 being rocked by a cam 69 against which it rests, there beingprovided a roller 70 at the end of the lever.

There also is provided upon the threaded shank of, the drawbolt 62 a nut63 that is a face 86 and a notch 87.

gaging a side-face cam 74. Rotatable upon a spindle (rigidly orotherwise) secured to a resilient frame member 76 mounted upon the lever71, is a roller or rest which as well as having an intermediateposition. (as shown in the drawings) to enable it to assist inpositioning the objects, has a side to side"movement to direct theobjects into the chutes-7 7 and 77*,the sideface cam 74 being socontoured to produce the'oscillation of the lever as v 71 to effect suchmovement of the member 75.

Provided as an integral or otherwise extension of the lever 71and'adapted to co operate with vthestop54 isa part having The notch 87 isprovidedfor the reception of a'peg 83 upon a detent or plunger 80provided with a roller 81 and forced by a spring 84aga-inst a cam 82. Inpractice should the object prove of such compressibility to allow thestop 54 to engage the edge 88 of the part 85, the peg 83, which at thistime will be opposite the notch 87 will enter the notch 87 on accountof.

the face of the cam 82 falling away at this point, and hold the lever 71against movement until the peg is withdrawn. Had the stop 54. notengaged the edge 88 the peg 83' would would have contacted the face 86and not have restrained the lever.

, A, configured part 90-if desired may be pro with a.

vicled upon the beam 50 to co-operate graduated dial member 91.

The; object feeding means according to this invention'comprises a chuteand. theobj cots are held; therein by a hook shaped'member 96 fulcrumedat 97 to a bracket 98, the hookmember having an inwardly extending part99. r

The member 96 as well as beingprovide'd with a spring loaded plunger 100is connected byja rod-101 to a bell crank lever 102 pivotally secured toa bracket 103.

' As shown 1 a spring tends to force the screwed contact member 105within the limb 106 of the-bell crank lever against the closure plate107 at the top of the beam 50, and as will be understood upon the upwardmovement of the beam and upon'it contacting the member 105 the hookedpart of the member 96 is retracted and allows the object previouslyengaged by it, to fall, the plunger 100 holding the other objectsdisposed in the chute 95 from falling also. I

Upon the beam discontinuing contact with the bell crank levertheleverpivots to force the hook inwardly and to withdraw, the plunger100 outwardly the object previously held by the plunger 100 then fallinguntil it engages the hooked part. i

-Movement in one directionis imparted t the lever 72 by a spring 108.

, VVhilethe test according to this invention has been described as beingmade upon one diameter of the object,- it mayifdesired: be

' is imposed.

What I claim is 1. An apparatus for determining the deformability ofan'article under pressure, a pivoted rest for supporting the article tobe tested, a loaded beam for imposing a pressure on the article, a camcontrolling the movement of the beam power actuated, moving means forsaid rest, and holding means for preventing actuation of said movingmeans during the pressure movement of said beam.

2. An apparatus for determining the deformab-ility of an article underpressure, including a loaded pivotally mounted beam, means controllingthe movementof the beam, a movable member adapted to apply an ini tialpressure to the article to be tested, means for applying a yieldingforce to said member in one direction and holding means restraining themovement of said member in the opposite-direction.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the means for applying theyielding-force comprises aespring actuated plunger, and the holdingmeans comprises a clamp which coacts With said plunger. A A p 4. Anapparatus for determining the deformability of an article under pressureincluding a loaded beam for imposing a pressure onthe article, a camcontrolling the mov ment of the beam so that for each article tested thebeam starts its pressure movement from an identical position, powerdriven initial pressure means to apply pressure to the article prior tothe'pressure movement of said beam, holding means for preventing themovement of the initial pressure means during the pressure movement ofthe beam, an oscillatory member adapted to direct the removal of thearticles tested, yielding means tending to move said oscillatory memberin one direction, power means for moving the latter in the oppositedirection, and means movable with the beam and co-acting with saidoscillatory member adapted to prevent movement thereof in apredetermined direction.

5. An apparatus for determining the deformability of article underpressure including; aloaded beam for imposing a pressure on the article,a cam controlling the movement of the beam so that for eacharticletested the beam starts its pressure movement from an identicalposition, power driven initial pressure means to apply'pressure to thearticle prior to pressure movement of the beam, holding" means forpreventing movement'of the initial pressure meansduring the pressuremovement of the beam, means holding a supply of articles, and apivotally mounted hooked feed control lever connected to and controlledby a member engaging the beam.

6. Apparatus for determining the deformability of an article underpressure in cluding a loaded beam forimposing a pressure on the article,a cam controlling the movement of the beam to bring it to an initialzero positionand releasing it to act on said article, and means toimpart a predetermined pressure to said article While confined by saidbeam in its initial zero position so that for each article tested thebeam starts its movement under an identical initial pressure from anidentical position.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

THOMAS CHOPPER.

